MDC’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program Offers Free Help to Low-Income Residents

Miami, January 25, 2010 -
Miami Dade College (MDC) is continuing its long-standing commitment to help low-income, elderly, and non-English speaking residents complete their 2009 taxes with the “always free” Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA).

The VITA program is administered and staffed by faculty and MDC business students who volunteer their time to help the public in preparing their tax forms.

Students are trained beforehand and must pass an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) exam of basic rules, regulations, and tax preparation skills before they assist taxpayers. Divided into three groups, their functions are administrative, tax return preparation, and quality review.

The VITA program was started decades ago by the IRS in an attempt to help those who need specialized attention in preparing their tax forms.

All MDC VITA sites have the ability to file electronically.

“This is our 16th year of providing this tax service to the community,” said Dr. Ana M. Cruz, department chairperson of MDC’s School of Business. “It has been very successful over the years because of our attention to quality. MDC faculty supervises each tax assistance site to make sure tax returns are accurate and properly filed with the Internal Revenue Service.”

Federal income tax returns must be in the mail and postmarked no later than April 15, 2010.

Individuals interested in having their taxes done through the MDC VITA program must bring the following documents to the center with them:

Social security card and the social security cards of any dependents to be claimed.

Picture I.D.

W-2 earnings statement.

1099 MISC (for self-employed individuals only).

1099 INT (interest income).

Any documents pertaining to expenses to be claimed (receipts, etc.).

Below is a list of this year’s IRS/MDC VITA tax service locations, their schedules and contact info:

MDC Hialeah Campus
1776 W. 49th St., Hialeah 33012
Lobby of the main classroom building
4 to 7 p.m.; Tuesdays, Feb 2 through April 6, 2010
305-237-1519
Additional information: Languages spoken: English and Spanish. A maximum of 25 clients per evenings will be allowed. Customers must be signed in prior to 6:30 p.m.

MDC Kendall Campus
11011 S.W. 104th St., Miami 33176
Room 6343 (Business office in Room 6319)
2 to 4 p.m.; Feb. 8 through April 8, 2010
305-237-2375/2283
Additional information: Mondays and Wednesdays are by appointment only. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, it is first come, first served and customers will only be accepted until 3:45 p.m. A maximum of 10 customers will be served each day.

Miami Dade College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate and baccalaureate degrees.
Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Miami Dade College.
Miami Dade College is an equal access/equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, marital status, age, religion, national origin,
disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, or genetic information. Contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs/ADA Coordinator, at 305.237.2577 for information.